Value from Managed Services

an empty office with people working at their desks

Giving responsibility for your IT operations to a managed services provider is a big step, and you want to get the most value out of it. If you make the right choices when setting up management and in the ongoing relationship, you can get the most effective use of your equipment and software, whether you keep them on site or use remote systems.

Step 1

The first step is to choose a provider that understands your technology. Select one with a proven record of reliability, one whose expertise includes the machines, operating systems, and software that you use. Whatever your application is, it’s vital to have an MSP that understands security issues and doesn’t neglect them for the sake of convenience.

Make sure to understand the scope of your agreement. How much is the provider promising to do? Are you getting 24-hour support? Is there a guaranteed turnaround time for getting systems back up? Whether you need the highest support level or a more economical option, you need to know what to expect.

Step 2

Once the arrangement is in place, ongoing communication is important. Let the provider know when your needs change. If you learn about new tech that might help your business, ask what they think about it and whether they can support it. You’ll learn something about it, even if you end up choosing a different option.

Even when you use an MSP, you’ve probably got employees whose expertise and responsibilities include IT. As a senior manager, you need to know what the MSP is doing, but you shouldn’t let your in-house people feel they’re in an adversarial position. Let them communicate freely with the provider so that they’re on top of all the issues and can make useful recommendations to you.

At Bluwater Technologies, we can provide managed IT services that will meet all your business’s goals. Please contact us for more information.

NAS vs. Cloud Storage

a silver computer with four disk drives attached to it

Odds are your business has LOTS of files and data that it shares with everyone in the company. Some firms use cloud storage products like Dropbox or Google Drive to store and share those files. Others have their own “in-house” storage option called a NAS or Network Attached Storage. A NAS is a dedicated space that receives, stores, and sends data over a network. Basically, it is a personal cloud for your business.

Please review the pros and cons of a NAS and cloud services so you can make the right choice for your business needs.

NAS

With a NAS you have complete control and ownership of your data. No corporate giant has anything to do with your data or risks your privacy. A NAS solution is infinitely scalable. This means you can add additional storage at your own terms. With a NAS you have complete control of your data and how it is stored, backed up, retrieved and deleted. This can be daunting as it does get technical and one wrong move can put your data at risk. So it may be best to hire an IT professional.

Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is hosted offsite. Your data remains untouched, regardless of what happens to your physical location. Cloud storage for businesses can get pricey. Subscription services are available, but increasing your storage capacity usually requires paying more. Cloud storage is easy. Nearly anyone can create an account and manage permissions and accounts for employees.

Your data is relatively safe in the cloud as hosting companies do a great job of backing up data and using redundant storage. Although this rarely happens, cloud storage services are a high-value target for hackers and your information could be at risk.

Ready to migrate your data to the cloud? Or just want to upgrade your existing solutions? Need a dedicated IT department to service all your tech needs?

Contact us to see how we can help.

How To Optimize Your WiFi

a person sitting on a couch using a laptop computer

These days portability is king. WiFi has allowed devices to be truly mobile while connected to the internet. It also brings several headaches when it doesn’t work or when the signal strength is weak. Luckily, there is something you can do to make that spotty WiFi connection stronger without spending a penny.

Router Placement

Your router broadcasts WiFi signals in a spherical range. To get the most coverage place your router closest to the center of the area. Avoid direct signal passage through walls and floors as this will weaken signal. Thick layers of concrete, metal, or stone will block WiFi signals in their tracks.

Update Drivers and Firmware

Download and install firmware for your routers from the router manufacturer’s website or through the control panel for your router. This will ensure that your router has all the latest software and is free of all known bugs and performance issues. Likewise, be sure your wireless card drivers are up to date.

Choose the Right Channels

Other networks communicating on the same channel can slow down WiFi. Your computer “hears” noise from all networks on the same channel and has to filter for the one it’s connected to. Most WiFi operates on a 2.4GHz band. Within this frequency, there are three available channels to operate on (1, 6, 11). You’ll want to choose the band with the least amount of traffic from other networks. You can use an app like WiFi Analyzer for Android to scan networks and determine what channel they are operating on.

Performing these steps will ensure that you have the best possible WiFi with your current setup. Upgrading your network infrastructure can be as simple as adding a single range extender, and you will soon see performance increases that are leaps and bounds ahead of what you are used to.

Contact us today to see how we make your WiFi perform it’s best.

Benefits of VoIP for Small Businesses

a person using a phone at a desk

What is VoIP?

VoIP Stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that allows you to make voice telephone calls over your broadband internet connection. The technology has only been around for about 20 years, but it has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1995.

The first products were wrought with sound quality and technical issues. As the technology developed from computer-to-computer calls to computer-to-phone to phone-to-computer and eventually phone-to-phone, telephone companies began to take notice and installed internet protocol capabilities to their switches.

The reliability and quality of the calls grew to a point that VoIP was accepted as a viable option to replace traditional phone lines. As broadband internet connections became readily available, usage skyrocketed.

Benefits of VoIP for the Office

Installing a VoIP system in your office is a great idea. Utilizing the technology in an office setting just makes sense. Here are some of the benefits of VoIP for small businesses.

  1. If you currently have a broadband connection in your office, you are able to use your existing network for the phone system. There is no need to run new phone or electrical cords for a secondary system.
  2. A VoIP system will save on labor costs and increase productivity. By using a virtual PBX (Private Branch Exchange) you can skip the receptionist. Allowing the automated software to direct calls, provide information and take messages. The mobility of many systems allows you to plug your phone into any broadband connection. Then, receive  calls on the same number even when you are at home or out-of-town on business.
  3. VoIP systems scale easily. As your business grows, your phone system will grow with you. Through allowing you to easily add lines and features to fit your needs.

If you have any questions about VoIP systems or how installing one in your office would benefit your business, please contact Bluewater Technologies. Our expert staff is ready with the answers you need to make an informed decision for your business communications needs.

A Cloud Solution as a More Stable Server

a keyboard with a blue cloud button on it

Using a cloud solution as a virtual server is a method you should be curious about if you’ve ever had nightmares about keeping up your own server.

That’s because when you move to the cloud, you’re essentially moving all your hardware and software there so there’s nothing you have to take care of on your own. For any business, the fear of a traditional dedicated server having a meltdown is one that can bring that business to a complete standstill without a better solution.

Perhaps you’ve heard about cloud servers and balked at the idea of having to move everything to something new. When you see the control you actually have using the cloud, you’ll perhaps feel differently as much as millions of other businesses have.

Easy Modification of Cloud Software

All the software that you use in the cloud is built in and can easily be modified to your own specifications. You can even tweak the operating system to what you need. You ultimately save money this way because all of the software you use is in the cloud rather than requiring the expense of buying new software and installing it on your own network. Also known as software as a service (or SaaS), the same applies to your hardware.

Security from Any Software or Hardware Problems

With automatic updates to your software and hardware, you don’t have to worry about any technical issues happening that could bring everything to a stop. You never have to worry about your hardware failing either. Additionally, software issues are all maintained internally without needing an in-house IT team.

Save Money from Running Your Own Server

Many new businesses that insist on running their own server soon realize just how expensive it can be. It costs money to keep it powered as well as maintaining cooling for protection. A cloud server only requires that you pay for what you really need to use to keep your business running optimally.

Faster Speed

If you try a cloud server, you’ll realize how fast they are. Without worry of your own server getting bogged down from data overload. When you have a business that depends on outgoing and in-going information every minute, a sluggish server is the last thing you want. In some cases, an in-house team may not have the capability to fix it for you. This can potentially put a damper on your business. A cloud server’s speed is going to be your best ally in keeping your business running efficiently without delays.

Using Cloud Servers for Different Tasks

You can have more than one cloud server for particular tasks that require a mountain of data on their own. You can store a remote backup of your entire system in one server, and a disaster recovery plan in another. This helps give better organization for different tasks your business may have to utilize later. Best of all, those servers can be accessed anywhere you have an Internet connection. This is part of the celebrated universality of the cloud.

It’s time you tried a cloud server solution for your business, and we can provide it for you. We partner with the most cutting edge cloud vendors to provide solutions that are robust and very affordable.